Fence gate



F. M. HUMES April 15 1924.'

FENCE GATE Original Filed Aug. .5d 1921 Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,490,823' PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS M. HUMEs, or QLEVELAND, oHIo.

FENCE GATE.

Application filed August 3, 19211, Serial No. 489,560. Renewed September 5, 1923.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. HUMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence Gates, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to swinging gates, and has for its object to construct a gate that may be adjusted up and down for the purpose of providing a suitable clearance beneath the gate permitting the passage of small animals, while at the same time not permitting cattle and larger animals to go through the gate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate constructed in the most eco nomical manner and to make the gate strong enough to withstand rough handling without destroying the mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, and

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the gate;

Figure 2 is a fragmental view of the gate with a hinge attached, taken in horizontal section of the gate and in enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the hoisting mechanism; v

Figure 4 is an elevation of the latch, and

Figure 5 a transverse section of the same.

The hinge postV 1, preferably made out of a steel or iron pipe with a smooth external surface, is set into the foundation 2 in the ground which foundation may be a stone or cement block.

The twohinges consist each of a strap 3 embracing the hinge post 1 and extending inwardly to grip the gate 7 to which they are secured by means of rivets or bolts 8. A filler block 4 is inserted between the hinge post 1 and the upright of the gate 7 and held in place by bolt 5. Suflicient play should be provided between the hinge and the post to permit not only an easy swinging motion but also an easy vertical sliding motion of the hinges on the hinge post.

The gate 7 is of the usual construction suitably braced to make it strong enough not to sag and it may be constructed out of wood or metal.

As will be seen in Figure 1, the hinge post 1 extends considerably above the top of the gate and its upper end provides a bearing for a pulley 9 which is swiveled to turn in horizontal direction in the hinge post 1. A rope or chain 10 is attached to the top of the gate by means of an eye bolt 11 and runs over ,pulley 9, its other end being fastened to a drum 12. This drum 12 is keyed toa shaft 13 running in bearings 20 consisting of a pairy of plates. 'Upon the shaft 13, which has its ends flattened to accommodate a handle 18, is also secured a ratchet wheel 14 which engages with a pawl 15, also attached to one of the bearing plates 20. For the purpose of releasing the ratchet when changing the height of the gate, a small handle 16 is attached to the pawl 15 so as to lift the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 14. The pawl is constructed to be thrown in engagement with the ratchet by its own weight.

Between the bearing plates 20 is shown a bearing block 19 which is held in place by bolts 22 and 23. 'Sufficient clearance is provided between the block 19 and the hinge post 1 to permit the turning of the former with the plates and the drum 12, when the gate swings in either direction, and a pair of gripping arms 26 are attached to the bearings 19 and 2O by means of bolt 23. These arms 26 extend inwardly so as to grip the upright of the gate and thereby transfer the turning motion of the gate to the lifting mechanism. It may at times be advisable to release t-he lifting mechanism from the gate` and for this purpose the bolt 23 runs in a longitudinal slot 25 provided in each arm 26, so that the arms 26 may be drawn back from engagement with the gate. As the block 19 for the lifting mechanism is :not only revoluble but also slidable on the hinge post 1, two abutment collars 24 have been provided one above and one below the bearing and are held lin position by set screws 44 or any other suitable means, so that the bearing is free to turn between the abutment collars 24.

At the free end of the gate, a suitable latch 29 has been provided as best seen in Figures 4 and 5. It is positioned about half way up the gate as at 30. A post 27 also made of tubular material is set into a block 28 of stone or cement in the same manner as hinge post 1. This latch post does not need to be the same height as the hinge post and is preferably made of lighter material as the strainthereon is not as great as on the hinge post.

The latch consists of a barrel 32 with side wings 33 for securing it to the gate by means of bolts or the like engaging in the holes 31 provided in the Wings. ln the barrel' is' is made concave to conform to the exterior surface of the post 27, so as to engage Vtherewith when the gate is in closed position, and the nose of the plunger 35 is also beveled on the sides, so as to be easily pushed back when the plunger hits the side of the post 27. A collar or suitable handle 40 is provided on the inner end of the plunger for opening the gate.

ln order to adjust the height of the gate from the ground. all that is necessary is to turn handle 18 after having released the ratchet and pawl 14 and 15 by means of the handle 1G. Upon turning handle 1S clockwise, as seen in Figure 1, the drum will revolve in the same direction and wind up some of the rope or chain 10 so to raise the gate from the ground. lVhen the desired height of the gate has been obtained the pawl 15 is again let down between the teeth of the ratchet 14 and the drum will thus be locked in position. i The handles 16 and 18 are preferably removable so as no undue tampering with the adjustment can take place.

ln order to lower the gate, the handle 18 has to be turned counter-clockwise after the pawl 15 has released the ratchet wheel 14. This will slaclren the chain or rope 10 and the hinges of the gate 3 will then slide down along the hinge post 1.

When the gate is to be opened after releasing the latch 29, the gate may be swung in either direction when the hoisting mecha.

nism will turn with it.

ln case the grip arms 26 do not engage the gate, the swinging thereof will not be communicated directly to the drum 12 and bearings 19 and 2O so that in case the bearings do not turn quite freely on the post a slight lifting of the gate would take place when it is swung open to one side or the other.

lf, for any reason, as for example from wear on the post under the bearing for the hoisting mechanism, or for changing the rope, it becomes necessary to shift the block 19 with the drum up and down on the hinge post 1, this may be easily accomplished after the set screws 44 have been loosened, by readjusting the collars 24 in axial direction on the post.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. ln a fence gate, a set of hinges, an upright hinge post of cylindrical cross-section and uniform diameter throughout its length, said hinges embracing said hinge post and means for adjusting the position of the r hinges longitudinally along` said post, said means comprising a pulley at the upper end of said hinge post, a hoisting drum, a bearing therefore revolubly mounted on the post and a rope secured at one end to the gate and at the other end to said drum and running over said pulley. s

2. In a gate, an upright hinge post of cylindrical cross section, hinges embracing said hinge post, a pulley, a bearing for said .La

pulley including a vertical pivot mounted to turn in the upper end of said hinge post, a hoisting drum, a rope secured at one end to the gate and at the other end to said drum and running over said pulley, a bearing for said drum including a block loosely mounted around the hinge post, cleats carrying said drum and bolted to said block, said block having suitable connection with said gate and means for axial adjustment of the drum bearing along said hinge post.

3. In a gate, an upright hinge post of cylindrical cross section, hinges I embracing said hinge post, a pulley, a bearing for said pulley including a vertical pivot mounted to turn in the upper end of said hinge post, a hoisting drum, a rope secured at one end to the gate and at the other end to said drum and running over said pulley, a bearing for said drum including a block loosely mounted around the hinge post, cleats carrying said drum and bolted to said block, arms bolted to said block and having longitudinal adjustable connection therewith and einbracing the adjacent part of the vgate and abutment collars for said block adjustably secured around the post.

In testimony whereof I afin my signature.

FRANCIS M. HUMES. [n s] 

